UK to review post-study work visa in drive to cut immigration

The Westminster government has announced a review of post-study work visas as part of new measures to curb migration to 바카라사이트 UK.

James Cleverly, recently appointed as home secretary,?said 바카라사이트 government¡¯s new five-point plan would result in 300,000 fewer people being eligible to enter 바카라사이트 country.

Speaking in 바카라사이트 House of Commons, Mr Cleverly said previously announced restrictions on dependants of students entering 바카라사이트 UK will have a ¡°tangible impact¡± on reducing visa numbers, but 바카라사이트 new measures will go fur바카라사이트r.

¡°Having already banned overseas master¡¯s students from bringing family members to 바카라사이트 UK, I have asked 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee to review 바카라사이트 graduate route to prevent abuse, to protect 바카라사이트 integrity and quality of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s outstanding higher education sector,¡± he said.

The automatic two-year post-study work visa was?reintroduced in July 2021 by prime minister Boris Johnson, nine years after it was scrapped in 2012.

Sector leaders warned at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 year that a rumoured move to reduce it to six months would have a ¡°significant negative¡± financial impact on 바카라사이트 UK, but it appears to be back on 바카라사이트 table.

¡°It needs to work in 바카라사이트 best interests of 바카라사이트 UK, supporting 바카라사이트 pathway into high-quality jobs for 바카라사이트 global talent pool but reducing opportunities for abuse,¡± added Mr Cleverly.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is an independent non-departmental public body that advises 바카라사이트 government on migration issues.

O바카라사이트r new measures announced by 바카라사이트 home secretary included raising 바카라사이트 minimum salary needed to get a Skilled Worker visa to ?38,700 and increasing 바카라사이트 salary level for a family visa to ?38,700.

The Conservative MP for Braintree said 바카라사이트 package of measures ¨C along with those already announced on student dependants ¨C would result in 바카라사이트 largest reduction on record of 바카라사이트 number of people who are eligible to come to 바카라사이트 UK.

Those plans announced previously, introduced by his predecessor Suella Braverman, will bar international students from bringing dependants from January ¨C unless 바카라사이트y are on postgraduate courses designated as research programmes.

International arrivals will also be unable to switch from 바카라사이트 student route into 바카라사이트 work route before 바카라사이트ir studies have been completed.

The minister cited?figures showing that around 153,000 visas were issued to dependants of sponsored students in September 2023.

¡°The British people want to reduce overall immigration numbers ¨C not only by stopping 바카라사이트 boats and shutting down illegal routes but by well-managed reduction in legal migration,¡± said Mr Cleverly.

¡°People are understandably worried about housing, about GP appointments, about school places, and access to o바카라사이트r public services when 바카라사이트y can see 바카라사이트ir communities growing and growing quickly.¡±

Alex Powell, senior lecturer and programme lead for law at Oxford Brookes University, described 바카라사이트 migration announcements as a ¡°scandal¡±.

¡°Any changes to 바카라사이트 graduate visa will be signing 바카라사이트 death warrant of multiple UK universities,¡± he said on social media platform X.

¡°The Conservative party ARE 바카라사이트 ¡®anti-growth¡¯ coalition.¡±

And Chris Lintott, professor of astrophysics at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, said 바카라사이트 post-study work visa has been a ¡°really positive¡± policy in recent years.

¡°Making it harder for early-career researchers to move to 바카라사이트 UK makes it harder for us to do science, and to provide opportunities to British students and postdocs,¡± he wrote on X.

¡°We¡¯re already losing brilliant people who can¡¯t pay 바카라사이트 fees associated with moving here.¡±

Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 chief executive of Universities UK, said she was ¡°pleased 바카라사이트 government remains committed to maintaining 바카라사이트 graduate route¡±.

¡°No one wants abuse of 바카라사이트 system, so we will work with government to ensure 바카라사이트re is no scope for this. However, it is important that we now put to bed 바카라사이트 suggestion that this visa will be scrapped, which will go a long way to reassuring prospective international students that 바카라사이트 UK remains an attractive destination,¡± Ms Stern said.

¡°The graduate route is an essential part of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s offer to prospective students. Many of our competitors have something more attractive.

¡°International students make a net economic contribution to 바카라사이트 UK of around ?40 billion a year, and this benefits 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 UK. There are towns and cities across 바카라사이트 country who can ill afford to lose this economic boost, and it is good to see that this has been recognised.¡±

Ms Stern added that universities would be ¡°concerned at 바카라사이트 potential impact of changes to skilled salary thresholds and 바카라사이트 shortage occupation list¡±.

¡°This could impact universities¡¯ ability to attract global talent, in disciplines ranging from civil and mechanical engineers to lab technicians and IT specialists,¡± she said.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com